What is a Recess?
A Recess event is a break from constraints: a recess from traditional obligations, a recess from the uninspiring, a recess from boundaries (in music, movement, conventional norms, and expression), a recess from the creative-voids of the every day. We call it Alt. (short for Alternative) because that's what we are, that's the music we prefer, that's the experience we strive to create--something outside of the ordinary. We call it Blues because that's who we are, we are Blues dancers and a part of the larger Blues community. We dance with the creative brilliance of Blues connection, technique, and musicality, often to Blues music. . . and often to something else. We believe in an inclusive and expansively nonrestrictive idea of what the Blues community "IS" and what it can become. We believe in dance as a living, ever-evolving cultural movement: borne out of the time-honored traditions of the past and inspired by the sounds, movements, styles, rhythms, and progressive social revelations of today. We are a community of students, parents, dance instructors, artists, musicians, lovers, engineers, wonderers, magicians, healers, and beyond. We are a community of dancers; we are the Recess Family.
Be Respectful and Expect Respect
Alt-Recess believes in the creation of safe spaces and community empowerment. We welcome everyone into our community regardless of race, gender, sexuality, class, age, or ability. We also hold consent and the creation of consent culture as an important project in our community. We encourage everyone to take initiative in respecting, setting, discussing, and defending boundaries. Let's work together towards the creation of the community we all deserve.
Radically Inclusive Pricing: Sliding Scale and Need Blind
All Recess events are need blind--we are committed to making sure no one is excluded from our community due to finances. If you want to come, but feel held back by your financial situations, fill out a scholarship and volunteer application so that we can find a way for you to join us.
Co-Created Events
Recess events are not run by some huge production company; they are run and produced by you! At most Recess events, every single person who registers for to do a volunteer shift during the event. You will get to choose where you plug in: working in the kitchen, building one of our structures, helping folks register and find their way around, creating a enchanted ambiance for the dances, supporting all our hard-working volunteers…whatever you decide, you’ll be helping to make the Recess magic happen.
The smaller Recesses have had required volunteering for years, and many participants tell us that their volunteer shift was a highlight of their experience. You’ll get to hang out with people you may never have otherwise met, and most importantly you'll have an opportunity to spend time in genuine service to your community. These events and this community belong to you!
The smaller Recesses have had required volunteering for years, and many participants tell us that their volunteer shift was a highlight of their experience. You’ll get to hang out with people you may never have otherwise met, and most importantly you'll have an opportunity to spend time in genuine service to your community. These events and this community belong to you!
Role Fluid Partner Dancing
At a Recess, we are challenging, encouraging, and empowering social dancers to step outside their traditional role on the dance floor. We introduce new techniques and concepts that question the need for a gender-binary in partner dancing. Rather than creating Leads that follow, Follows that lead, Fleads or Lollows, or whatever your colloquial binary-driven pronoun(s) of choice may be, we defend the idea that every dancer has the ability to both speak (traditional lead role) and to listen (traditional follow role). Where others see roles, we see a dynamic conversation; one with receptive speakers and listeners who interject and affirm.
above photo by Andy Lee (LVBR 2012)